Species Detail Grasses

Plant - fall Mahan Park		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Schizachyrium scoparium - little bluestem Synonyms: Andropogon scoparius, Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon scoparius, Andropogon divergens, Schizachyrium scoparium Plant Form: Grass Family: Poaceae
Plant - fall Mahan Park


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Plant - fall Mingus Mtn Sue Smith	Base of plant Mingus Mtn Sue Smith	Seedhead - fall Mingus Mtn Sue Smith	Seed close-up Mahan Park John Kava	Seedheads Mahan Park John Kava


	Grass Description - Glossary of Grass Terminology Origin: Native Season: Warm Habitat Description: Oak and juniper woodlands, pine forests, mountain meadows. Plant Communities:Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest Elevation: 5000 - 7500 feet General Description Desc: Often grows in a columnar bunch. Seedhead is tightly contracted to stem. Foliage is a distinct bronze-orange color when it cures in late summer or early fall. Rhizomes are absent or very short. Identification Notes: An erect bunchgrass; flat bluish basal shoots in the spring; plants turn to a reddish color after frost. The Inflorescence has paired spikelets at each node, one sessile, the other pedicellate, the flowering stems are white-ciliate (haired). Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass Rhizomes: Y Stolons: N Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: Greater than 36 inches Seedhead Structure: Branched - contracted Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: Jul - 0 Flower Characteristics Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: N Awns: 1/4 inch to 1 inch Three Awns: N Awns Bent: Y Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedhead is a single stem with some stalked and some sessile spikelets. Main axis and branches are strongly hairy. Vegetative Charcteristics Blade Hairy: Y Blade with White Margins: N Blade Cross section: Flat or folded Blade Notes: Blade flat or folded, 3 to 18 inches long, less than 1/4 inch wide, smooth or hairy. Sheath Hairy: N Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar: N Ligules: Membranous and hairy Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area: Y Forage Value: Good while immature for all classes of livestock; after mature, fair for cattle and horses, but too coarse for sheep or goats. Seed is eaten by songbirds and upland gamebirds. The plant provides cover for ground birds and small mammals.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer